obama's remarks tuesday, house speaker john boehner said the president offered no credible plan that can pass congress only more calls for higher taxes. but within boehner's own party, there is disagreement on whether the sequester is a danger or a silver lining. >> not only should the sequester stand, many pundits say the sequester's far short, that we need $4 trillion in cuts. >> reporter: and as washington argues over whose fault the cuts will be if they happen, nearby local governments, home to federal workers and contractors, worry that massive layoffs would cripple their economies. >> we don't need to wait to see the white in their eyes to start responding because of the potential that we see. this challenge is real and real right now. >> with the deadline still nine days away there's a lot of posturing going on and no sign anyone is trying to make a deal. officials tell us there are no secret negotiations under way. one reason for that the obama administration thinks it is winning this debate and public pressure will force the republicans to give in. charlie, gayle? >> bill pl